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The University of Mississippi Athletics
French Picks Up Two More All-America Honors
6/21/1999 | Football
December 11, 1998
OXFORD, Miss. -- Ole Miss tight end Rufus French has been selected to two more All-America first teams after being named to the Burger King College Football Coaches Association and Football News squads. French was earlier chosen to the Walter Camp All-America team.
A 6-4, 260 pound junior from Amory, Miss., French is the first player from Ole Miss to be named to the Football Coaches All-America team since safety Glenn Cannon was picked in 1969. Punter Bill Smith was the last Rebel to be named first team All-America by the Football News, that in 1985. The last Ole Miss player to be named to three All-America squads in the same year was offensive guard Everett Lindsay in 1992.
"We are excited that Rufus continues to be recognized nationally for what he has meant to this Ole Miss program," said new Rebel head coach David Cutcliffe, who was with French Thursday night in Orlando, Fla., for the 1998 Home Depot College Football Awards Show, which was telecast by ESPN2. "Watching Rufus play through the years, nobody does it better at his position. He's a weapon, and that's going to be exciting to have that opportunity to work with him."
French led all Southeastern Conference tight ends in receiving for the second straight year. His 1998 totals included 35 receptions for 386 yards and two touchdowns as he averaged 11.0 yards per catch.
He completed the 1998 regular season in second place on the school's career tight end receptions list with 84 career catches. He will enter his 1999 senior campaign only 10 receptions shy of Jim Poole's (1969-71) career tight end receptions mark of 94. In his first three years at Ole Miss, French has 84 receptions for 814 yards and four TDs. His 84 catches also rank 12th on the Ole Miss career receptions list.
French is the 37th Ole Miss player to earn first team All-America honors. Frank "Bruiser" Kinard, a tackle, was the school's first All-America when he was chosen in 1936 and again in 1937.
With the French selection, three of the last four Ole Miss All-Americans have been tight ends. Wesley Walls (1988) and Kris Mangum (1996) are currently playing tight end with the Carolina Panthers of the NFL. Everett Lindsay (1991-92) plays offensive guard with the Minnesota Vikings.
FOOTBALL NEWS ALL-AMERICAN TEAM
Offense
QB -- Michael Bishop, Kansas State
RB -- Devin West, Missouri
RB -- Ricky Williams, Texas
WR -- David Boston, Ohio State
WR -- Torry Holt, North Carolina State
TE -- Rufus French, Ole Miss
OL -- Aaron Gibson, Wisconsin
OL -- Kris Farris, UCLA
OL -- Rob Murphy, Ohio State
OL -- Brandon Burlsworth, Arkansas
OL -- Matt Stinchcomb, Georgia
PK -- Sebastian Janikowski, Florida State
Defense
DL -- Anthony McFarland, LSU
DL -- Tom Burke, Wisconsin
DL -- Patrick Kerney, Virginia
LB -- Jevon Kearse, Florida
LB -- Jeff Kelly, Kansas State
LB -- Dat Nguyen, Texas A&M
LB -- Chris Claiborne, USC
DB -- Chris McAlister, Arizona
DB -- Antoine Winfield, Ohio State
DB -- Champ Bailey, Georgia
DB -- Tyrone Carter, Minnesota
P -- Joe Kristosik, UNLV
BURGER KING COACH'S ALL-AMERICA TEAM
Offense
WR -- Troy Edwards, Louisiana Tech
WR -- Torry Holt, North Carolina State
TE -- Rufus French, Ole Miss
OL -- Anthony Cesario, Colorado State
OL -- Matt Stinchcomb, Georgia
OL -- Jon Jansen, Michigan
OL -- Aaron Gibson, Wisconsin
C -- Todd McClure, LSU
QB -- Cade McNown, UCLA
RB -- Ricky Williams, Texas
RB -- Mike Cloud, Boston College
Defense
DL: -- Jared DeVries, Iowa
DL: -- Montae Reagor, Texas Tech
DL: -- Corey Moore, Virginia Tech
DL: -- Tom Burke, Wisconsin
LB: -- Adalius Thomas, Southern Mississippi
LB: -- Al Wilson, Tennessee
LB: -- Dat Nguyen, Texas A&M
LB: -- Chris Claiborne, USC
DB: -- Champ Bailey, Georgia
DB: -- Antoine Winfield, Ohio State
DB: -- Chris McAlister, Arizona
P: -- Joe Kris Tosik, UNLV
PK: -- Martin Gramatica, Kansas State
RS: -- Kevin Johnson, Syracuse
